Sam's Kitchen was really fun to experience and the food was so pretty good for the price. I had the garlic shrimp plate. We went kind of late so the service was a bit slow but the ambiance was very relaxed and it was nice to get a fairly large serving of food for a decent price and flavor. read more

Sam's Kitchen - Garlic shrimp plate - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Delicious, simply so delicious! I saw this place was open late and we hadn't had dinner yet so we headed over around 10:30 to have a bite. It's set up as take away, but they have seating both in the back and on the street! The staff were very friendly and welcoming. If you choose to eat they, they're happy to have you and willing to chat with you, checking in often! I got the steak with pineapple teriyaki sauce as a plate, which comes with a green salad and a macaroni salad. I also ordered the spring rolls. Excellent! My friend had the chicken with Gali teriyaki sauce. We both enjoy the entrees! read more

Our favorite place to get garlic shrimp. Personally we like it here better than the other famous truck. This is right in Honolulu walkable from Waikiki beach. There's no parking space other than the limited street parking. You order from the window and will get the food in to go containers. If you see those small coupon books on the side of the street pick one up! It will have a coupon for a free drink with a plate order. Try their pineapple ice tea! They have their original seating on the left side of the kitchen and expanded to the outside up front. Now they also added another inside seating right next door. It is pretty stuffy inside so if you are visiting at night, it would be cooler to sit outside. We normally get their original garlic shrimp. The spicy one is good too but not as good as the original. The skin is peeled so you don't have to peel it yourself (like you have to at the other place). read more

Sam's Kitchen - The restaurant - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We've been to Sam's every time we visit Waikiki and it did not disappoint. One of the better garlic shrimps around the area. I personally like it better than Giovanni's. Super easy to order and there's never a long wait. The spicy shrimps are actually really spicy with a tangy flavor. It is a bit saucier than I prefer. Sadly, the N.Y. Steak came out well done so it was a bit chewey :( definitely give this place a try! There are seatings inside and outside. The wait is never long :) read more

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Food good, Ambience great, Bartender Amazing. Donnie Roxx is his name, full service is his game. By far the most inviting and friendly guy. Full bar with a great laid back Tiki vibe. Donnie took care of us for 9 days straight. Gave us great aloha vibes and great recommendations for the best experience ever. We had an Airbnb that we were not super excited about. But when we found Sam's Steak and pool bar, Donnie changed our experience for the better. Even if we don't stay at the bamboo next time we will be back to Sam's Steakhouse for drinks with the friends we made here. read more

Sam's Kitchen - Pool bar area with drinks and food! - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Disappointed in the experience especially considering all the good reviews. Perhaps it was an off day. I would not recommend the teriyaki garlic sauce. The flavors mixing together were strange on my chicken plate. If I were to go again I would probably choose the garlic or the teriyaki. They ran out of steak so we went with shrimp instead. The shrimp was well cooked and enjoyable but do not go with the salad. There was an excess amount of sauce on the shrimp that dripped onto the salad and made it wilt so much that it kind of turned to mush. It might have been better over rice that could soak it up. The macaroni salad was also mid. Service was decent. Overall I probably wouldn't be back. read more

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4 stars for taste but 3 stars for price. I understand why it's expensive, my side of shrimp with a tip came out to be $19. I was definitely in need of something else in addition to the shrimp. They were definitely delicious and I ate them from head to tail. If you're willing to spend the extra for good quality then sam's kitchen is great. For a dinner meal during work, it definitely was a little disappointing to pay more than I make an hour on my meal. Ambiance is very grab and go, I recommend ordering through Yelp beforehand, but you still have to pick up the shrimp from the main register. Good waikiki spot aka expensive and more convenient. read more

Sam's Kitchen - Spicy garlic shrimp - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

After a long day of travel, we were looking for a quick bite to take back to the hotel. This little gem was sandwiched in between a few other places and I almost missed it. I just went super simple with the pineapple teriyaki chicken plate and it was anything but simple! Packed with flavor, the chicken was super tender, the sauce was awesome, and the salad was delicious. The gentleman who took our order was incredibly friendly and helpful with deciding what to orders I'm glad we found this on our first night! read more

Sam's Kitchen - Pineapple teriyaki chicken plate with rice and salads - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Upon landing in Hawaii we really didn't have much options as everything was about to close. It was either between sams kitchen or zippys which I like their dennys over there. I thought the seasoning and the shrimp were really mediocre. The price was a little on the steeper side since it is near Waikiki Beach which is where all the tourists were at. Me and my friends stopped by here because we stayed at Hilton so it was pretty close by. The service was quick and the guy behind the counter was hella aloha. I want give it a 4 star but I just can't justify the price. read more

Sam's Kitchen - Center piece - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Spicy garlic teriyaki shrimp plate $20. Sooo tasty! Hearty portions, comes with rice, Mac salad, and green salad. Small unassuming stand with some tables. Nothing fancy but really great lunch option in Waikiki. Pro tip: walk to island vintage shaved ice and get dessert afterward! read more

Sam's Kitchen - Spicy garlic teriyaki sauce shrimp with salad and rice - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Sam's Kitchen is a great restaurant! Food is delicious! So Ono! Great garlic steak and garlic shrimp, spicy fire shrimp loved it! Poke is fresh and the bomb! Must try this place!! The Bamboo Hotel is a hidden gem with secluded ambiance! The food and service were excellent. The poolside seating is romantic at nighttime. Located off of 2425 Kūhiō Ave at the Bamboo Hotel poolside! We met Sam last night at the bar and Sam took care of our party and hooked us up! Thank you! Khan & I had a great night! Much Mahalo! read more

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This place has great reviews, it was close to the hotel so I thought I'd give it a try. Got a platter with both steak and shrimp in spicy garlic. The sauce is good, not very spicy but tons of garlic. I preferred the shrimp over the steak as the steak was very tough (ordered medium rare). Comes with rice, mac/potato salad and green salad - large portion! I'd say 3/5, not the best garlic shrimp but good for one that's close, convenient & quick bite to eat. read more

Review from January 2023: Been here multiple times through the years and was really disappointed on this visit. We usually order the shrimp, it's fine it was better pre-COVID. But what's really disappointing was how dirty the place looked. And to top it off there where two cooks at the back vaping while cooking and we can also smell it since we were seated near the kitchen. I'm not even going to discuss the state of the restroom :( Sad to say I'm not going to be a customer anymore. read more

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Heard great things about this place and was also recommended by a local. They're opened late so we thought it would be a great place to stop by and grab some garlic shrimp to-go since we love garlic shrimp. First impression - pretty cool spot, great art work and seems like a nice place to hang out Service - lady taking out order from the front was rude and snappy from the go when I asked if I can get two separate sides of mac salad Food was just basic - the rice was dry and the mac salad was actually potato mac salad (was a bit surprised by that), the shrimp was pretty decent Overall - I probably won't be back read more

Sam's Kitchen - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

If you come to Hawaii and not indulge in buttery, garlicky shrimp, did you really come to Hawaii? Such is the question I posed to myself on this visit, and put simply, the answer is no. We visited the famed Sam's Kitchen, a place known for their garlic-butter-laden dishes, to see what all the fuss was about. The ordering system was fairly simple; Just state your order at the counter and have the food brought to you in a little under ten minutes. We ordered the garlic shrimp (both the original and the spicy) along with the spicy garlic steak. To be honest, we weren't super impressed. Sure, everything you drench in garlic butter is bound to be decent at the very least, but for an island known for its garlic shrimp, the group found the flavor profile lackluster. The shrimp was pretty soggy, plain, and simple despite being saturated in sauce. The steak was the standout as it was perfectly tender, but still, I had qualms with it as it didn't seem to have any other flavor. I wish it was a bit more multidimensional but the steak was just one note with the note being garlic butter. I know this island has great shrimp, so we're still on the prowl to find it. read more

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Fantastic food and exceptional service. Portions are large and tasty. Little wait but worth it when the fresh food came out. Had the shrimp combo the chicken and rice. read more

Most expensive rice and a few pieces of tofu I've ever bought. Unfortunately, it's not what it used to be. I ordered my kids tofu with a side of rice and paid $25 for tiny to go containers. Unfortunately the tofu had no flavor. The marinade was very bland or maybe they didn't use enough? We had better luck with the old location. Super bummed because we've been longtime customers. read more

The shrimp at Sam's Kitchen was delicious but I wish they put more garlic on the shrimp/rice. Out of all the sides, the best side was the mac-salad. The customer service was standard and it took a while to get my food. Especially cuz the late night influx of people from clubs/late travelers. The locations has several tables inside and outside to sit down. So finding a table is usually not a problem. :) One con is that the food price is expensive and does leave a dent in your wallet. The additional charge for sides is horrible and wish they include the rice in the original combo. read more

Sam's Kitchen - Sumo - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Took the visiting family to sam's place at the bamboo hotel...loved it! The tiki bar ambiance is beautifully well done, spacious and comfortable. Sam and his staff are very friendly and accommodating. One of our party has a food allergy; and they brought out the chef to make sure everything would be fine. We had a wonderful evening and will definitely be back. read more

I was wildly drunk everytime I had this and it was good but not amazing. The portions were kind of small for the price. We paid over $30 bucks for the big box. It's a cool late night joint though when you're hungry and there's nothing else around! The service was okay, the lady in front was kind of rude. read more

Sam's Kitchen - Spicy Garlic Sauce and Matsuri Sauce - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Literally the worst meal I've had on the island. My friend however, said it was the worst meal of her life. Ordered spicy chicken with rice. What arrived at the table was thick cuts of dry, unseasoned chicken breast, covered in bottled chili paste on a bed of rice...and I mean chili paste straight from a bottle. First of all, thick cuts of dry chicken breast is the the first cardinal sin of bad restaurant food. Second, no salt or seasoning. Third, chili paste out of a bottle. This is an insult to every customer, and shows that you dont care about food, quality, flavor, or anything other than making a quick $20. The two stars are for the food runner who was kind and attentive. Dont open a restaurant unless you have something to offer. Do better. read more

The menu is short and sweet. It made ordering a lot easier! The food quality was good, and the price is more than fair. The ambiance is perfect for a chill meal, with a relaxed vibe that made it easy to unwind. It's tucked away behind a hotel, so it's a bit of a hidden gem. They have a yellow van parked from of the hotel. Definitely a place I'd return to for both the food and the laid-back atmosphere! read more

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Sean was the best server ever. He deserves a promotion and a raise. He really recommended the original garlic shrimp and it truly was the best shrimp that I've ever had on the island. Way better than Giovanni's. 10 out of 10 stars would recommend. read more

Terrible Service. This place took forever to even get water. We were seated before the table next to us and the table next to us got water first. Rude waiter and service was super slow. Take your business elsewhere. The waiter saw us waiting for water and didn't even bother. The food truck with dry ass rice down the street would've been better. read more

I really wanted to like this place, too! So disappointing... Ordered the garlic chicken plate that offers your choice of five or six different garlic sauces. You could barely taste the sauce! Comes with potato salad, rice, and green salad and you parely get a spoonful of potato salad but a mountain of rice $ave your money and go elsewhere... read more

Sam's Kitchen - Garlic chicken plate - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

5/5! After not being satisfied with Giovanni's Shrimp Truck, I had to get my Spicy Garlic Shrimp fix somewhere. I stumbled upon Sam's Kitchen as it was near my hotel and decided to give it a try. Here's the verdict. The Food: Since I was craving some spicy garlic shrimp, I had to get that. It came with two side, so I opted for the Mac salad and salad. The garlic shrimp was absolutely delicious! The flavor from the spices and garlic just blended well with the shrimp. The shrimp was cooked perfectly and the size was generous. Mac salad was decent, so nothing to rave home about, but the main player here was for sure the shrimp. The Service: Service was good. Staff was friendly and got my order out in a timely manner. It's more of a take out spot so not much service was needed. You order at a kiosk basically. The Atmosphere: It's located on the side of a building near the main streets of Waikiki, so it's convenient to walk too. There's some seating in the back of the restaurant and some tables nearby in front as well. Overall, a 5/5! Definitely recommend giving Sam's Kitchen a try. Quick eat and delicious food. read more

Sam's Kitchen - Spicy Garlic Shrimp Plate - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is definitely a hidden gem in Waikiki! The ambience was beautiful. The food was delicious! My server advised of his recommendations & was very nice and friendly. Would definitely recommend. read more

Sam's Kitchen - I had the Garlic Extra Jumbo Shrimp Da Plate. - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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THIS CUTE LITTLE HOLE IN THE WALL JOINT IS ONE OF THE FINEST ESTABLISHMENT.... On the day we went, two lovely younger ladies helped us out when we ordered. I was a bit bummed because they had run out of a few things we wanted to try, but never the less the ICE MACHINE AND SHRIMP MADE UP FOR IT.... YASSSSSS they have pebble ice and its the best!! They did not care how many times I walked up for more ice, we love to chew ice LOL. Anyhow, the shrimp was extremely filled with Garlic - WE LOVED IT... The rice was cooked to perfection and all the sides we had with it, were sooooo goood... I will be sure to stop in again!! I think the only thing that was quite annoying was the sewer smell while eating... I mean, nothing we can do, but that was just one thing that stuck out to me!!! read more

Sam's Kitchen - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Searched online for the best garlic shrimp and this place popped up. We didnt have a car to drive to our usual shrimp place. When we got here we realized we had been here before about five years ago. We had the pineapple teriyaki chicken, garlic teriyaki steak Original garlic shrimp and spicy garlic shrimp. All were excellent. The value is great as well. Would rather get steak and shrimp here for around 40 bucks than going to a steak house and paying almost triple. So tasty and very satisfying. Hidden gem! read more

This spot is a bit of a hole in the wall location but has plenty of seating. They're well known for the garlic shrimp, which I decided to try. The shrimp is peeled, which I believe is the proper way to serve shrimp so it's easy to eat and the actual shrimp meat is directly seasoned. Their shrimp is very garlicy and tasty if you like garlic. I got it with a side of fries, their fries are pretty good as they are super crispy. Service is friendly and efficient. Recommend this spot for some solid quick grub. read more

Sam's Kitchen - Garlic shrimp, fries - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Original Garlic Sauce steak plate $27 for all plus a can of sprite. Looks nothing like the pictures asked for medium rare and it's med well. Steak is super rubbery I'm tossing what's left here in the picture. Waste money. I'm not someone who typically yelps but this was legit the worst steak plate I ever had read more

Sam's Kitchen - Original Garlic Sauce - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This was a late night after landing at the airport find. It was convenient for the timeframe and location from our hotel. The food was mediocre though but filled us up to be able to goto sleep. We ordered the fried tofu and a garlic shrimp plate with rice and potato Mac salad. read more

The three of us were able to eat $62 (pre-tip) with an appetizer! Ask for Kai, he is awesome and super knowledgeable and friendly. read more

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My husband and I are visiting Hawaii and liked the steak and shrimp with the original garlic sauce. We also tried the crispy fries, garlic bread, and cheesy garlic bread. The staff was very nice. read more

Flew in to Honolulu late and this place is still open. Orders are taken in a small kiosk and eating area is adjacent to it. I don't see the kitchen, I assume it's in the alley behind the kiosk. Eating area has about 4 "picnic benches" and some outside. Food is served in take out containers. We had the shrimp in original garlic sauce with only a side of salad. Each order has about 6 - 8 pcs of shrimp. We got 2 orders and they cost $38+. Kinda hefty for such a small order. We also ordered a shrimp plate and a steak plate with spicy garlic. Plates come with 2 scoops of rice and a macaroni salad with some veggies. These cost $46. Steak was not good at all and the spicy sauce didn't go well with beef. It didn't taste anywhere near steak - dry, tough for medium and color is so pale it looked more like pork. Won't be back. read more

So good that we ate here at least three times while we were in Oahu! The portions are massive, and definitely enough to share between two people. My favorite was definitely the garlic shrimp which is super garlic, moist, and just overall delicious. The chicken was also surprisingly good as well. I love that it opened late so we could always stop by to grab after dinner meals. Definitely still dream about this place. Come check it out if you're ever in the Waikiki area. It's very affordable for what it is. They also have outside patios seating for you too. Enjoy your meal while taking in all the interesting pedestrians that can sometimes occupy this area. read more

Sam's Kitchen - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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After driving up to North Shore and finding out Fumi's Kahuku Shrimp is "permanently closed" I went back to waikiki with a very sad stomach (I wasn't aware of Giovanni's). I was determined to not leave until I have some garlic shrimp so I opted for Sam's. Is it the best? No. Is it a tad bit overpriced? Yes. Is the seating area kinda messy with flies flying around? Yea... But you can't beat the convenience of the location and HOW LATE they open. You can decided if this is something for you. read more

Spicy garlic steak had great flavor in the sauce but beef is pretty chewy. $18 for just steaks and another $3 for rice. +6 if u want to make it a plate with rice & a Mac salad. It should be included because $21 for this quality is just no. They advertise it as top 4% beef ny strip but what does that even mean. read more

Sam's Kitchen - Spicy garlic steak - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I was honestly a bit disappointed since Sam's Kitchen is highly rated and when we arrived there was a line/wait to order. When we arrived a lot of the items on the menu were already sold out, thankfully they still had garlic shrimp. We ordered the original garlic shrimp plate, which came with rice, green salad, and mac salad. The shrimp was a lot smaller than I expected and lacked a bit of flavor. Overall, felt like the price was a bit expensive for what you get. read more

Sam's Kitchen - Original Garlic Sauce - Food Stands Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I ordered a garlic steak bowl for a pick-up lunch. I realize from reading other reviews, that Sam's is probably notable for the shrimp so please take this review with a grain of salt! We had already done a north shore trek and tried Giovanni's and Kahuku's back to back for comparison, so I was shrimp'd out by the time I tried Sam's hence the steak order. Ordering online was super easy and the food was ready relatively quickly. Pick up was a breeze. I ordered the steak medium but by the time I got back to my hotel to eat, it was definitely well done - perhaps it is because they pull the steak hot off the grill and immediately into a box so the heat continues to circulate and cook the steak but just a FYI to staff in case you were wondering what the food looks like after it leaves the restaurant for to-go orders. Unfortunately, that did make the steak incredibly tough to eat. Perhaps it would have benefitted from some tenderizing methods to make it more manageable. Also, the bowl only comes with the steak and rice - no sides! I don't think I realized this in my haste of ordering online - I was hangry. I didn't find the garlic flavor to be particularly memorable either but it could be because the overcooked texture of the steak made me lose my appetite once I was no longer starving. I ended up cleaning the rice and throwing away the rest of the steak. Price is ofc expensive as is most of Waikiki so it is not necessarily a deterrent if you are limited to eating within this area. I would like to come back to try the seafood as I'm sure I just ordered the wrong thing. That being said - why offer something so mid on the menu and tarnish the reputation? read more